REPUBLICANS NEED A SMART ACTION PLAN, NOT JUST WORDS

The pace of American politics is much faster today than ever before. Politicians began declaring their candidacies for 2014 just days after the November 2012 election. Potential 2016 presidential candidates are already jockeying for position. If Republicans want to succeed in 2014 or 2016, they have precious little time for internal wrangling. They must quickly develop a strong brand. Words alone, however, will not develop that brand – we need action now.

Along with the faster pace of politics, voters have become more demanding. They have come to expect too much from government because government is doing too much. Regardless of the cause, voters want answers, not rhetoric, to some very real problems they face – many of them created by government.

Of course, at the federal level, Republicans only control the House of Representatives, which limits their ability to influence policy. Even so, there are concrete things Republicans can do that will benefit Americans and make Republicans competitive in 2014 and 2016.

On the issue of the deficit and taxes, the Republicans’ control of the House leaves them in a unique position to influence public debate and policy on those issues. Republicans succeed when the issue is government waste and reform. By contrast, Republicans and the nation lose when the debate is about how to raise taxes.

House Republicans should seize the moment and pass a series of reform bills. Each bill should suggest savings and improvements to existing government programs. Once or twice a month, Republicans should hold a press conference on the U.S. Capitol steps explaining their most recent reform, how much it saves future generations, and how it will make government more responsive.

Republicans must then publicly challenge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the Democrats and President Obama to pass those reforms. They must do so not only from the steps of the Capitol, but also at major rallies in each state. They cannot reform Washington from Washington alone – they must, as Maggie Thatcher would say, win the debate before they can win the votes. Simply stated, the voters are not in D.C., they are in the individual states.

If Harry Reid and the president adopt the reforms, everyone wins. If they reject the reforms, then Republicans can at least look Americans straight in the eye and say: “We want to reform government and save you money. The president is only interested in taxing you.”

If Republicans follow that program over the next 40 months, they will have developed a strong fiscal brand based on actions – not just words.

Beyond that, Republicans must win the debate on prosperity. Today, too many Americans are dependent on government and too many believe that government spending is the answer. Our governments spend one out every three dollars spent each year in the U.S. If government spending could restore prosperity, let alone create it, we all would be fabulously rich by now.

Republicans know that lower tax rates and regulations produce a more vibrant economy. A more vibrant economy means more jobs. More jobs means more tax revenues than any tax rate increase could ever produce.

Republicans must be able to explain that to voters much better than they did in the last election – but explanations alone are not enough. Voters want action. Fortunately, in a number of states around the country – such as Louisiana, Texas, North Dakota and Nebraska – Republican leaders are implementing good policies that are leading to more jobs.

Congressional Republicans should champion those state efforts by passing similar reforms and sending them to Harry Reid and the Senate. They should also pass bills that will help states achieve even more economic reforms by loosening the grip of Washington D.C. on the state economies.

Once again, after Republicans pass those bills, they should go around the country and win the reform argument with voters. The president may not take notice at first, but if Republicans drive the debate, they can win the debate.

No one should pay his or her fair share of government waste. Our country shouldn’t accept real unemployment at these historic highs. Bad government policies got us here; good policies can lead to prosperity. It will take action, however, not words. It is a question of will, not of a way.

Del Beccaro, a Walnut Creek lawyer and writer, is outgoing chairman of the California Republican Party.